Gladiolus Thrips vs Australian Gall Thrips

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Gladiolus Thrips Australian Gall Thrips
Scientific Name Thrips simplex Kladothrips intermedius
Order Thysanoptera Thysanoptera
Family Thripidae Phlaeothripidae
Size 1.2-1.5 mm 1-3 mm
Habitat Farmland Woodlands
Diet Herbivores Gall Makers
Regions Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Asia Australia
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Gladiolus Thrips

A specialist pest of gladiolus and related plants, causing silvery streaking on leaves and flower damage. It can survive in stored gladiolus corms.

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Did You Know?

Gladiolus thrips can persist through winter by hiding in stored gladiolus bulbs, reinfesting new plantings the following season.

Australian Gall Thrips

A eusocial thrips from Australia that induces galls on Acacia trees and defends them with a soldier caste. They are among the only thrips species to show true eusociality.

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Did You Know?

Their soldiers have enlarged forelegs used to crush and kill kleptoparasitic thrips that try to invade their galls.